After reading the first excerpt, I was impressed with the writing style of Knaak. The long-time Warcraft wordsmith created a bond between common orcs and their new Warchief, Garrosh. It was obvious that the orcs, whether brownskin or greenskin, would would do everything for Thrall’s successor. This becomes more apparent when Briln, the elderly orc captain, tells the reader that the orcs would have readily given their lives for their legendary overlord of the Warsong Offensive.

To be fair, I haven’t actually read any of Knaak’s novels yet, but these excerpts certainly caught my eye and I am looking forward to digesting his older works. This excerpt kept me intrigued throughout. I really wanted to find out what the cargo is that the orcs carry and what its purpose is. I had the idea that they captured some worgen, seeing the name of the novel, but after a second thought I am not so sure anymore. Briln informs us that they will be using this cargo against the Alliance. The worgen maybe an aggressive race, but they wouldn’t attack their own allies. More engrossing is the idea that the Cataclysm is the first sign of their “day” coming. What does Garrosh mean by that…

The second excerpt entertained from start to finish, largely due to heavy emotions. I read how disheartened Genn became with losing his land and city and how he doesn’t like having this curse. He blames himself for everything that happened. Again, the writing style remains slick (not surprising, given that it’s one book). Other staffers have routinely criticism Knaak for his dialogue and descriptions, but he made me feel the heartache and internal struggles Genn is living with. Just consider the weight of the last line, why would it be Malfurion’s fault that the Gilneans got cursed?

Before I go I really want to know what you guys think of these two excerpts? What kind of creatures do you think are in those cages? Why could it be Malfurion’s fault the Gilneans got cursed? Last but not least, are you going to buy this novel? I certainly am!

Darn previews sucking me in. LoreHound.com will have a full review shortly.

Note: This post contains spoilers if you haven’t completed questing in Mount Hyjal.

While I can’t yet speak for any of the other new zones in Cataclysm since I haven’t had the time to get to them just yet, I have been in awe since entering Mount Hyjal and finishing up questing there in the past couple of days. Never before in WoW have I experienced a good 125+ straight quests that have been so enjoyable.

It makes sense to start at the beginning, with the starter quest that leads into the zone – Warchief’s Command: Mount Hyjal or Hero’s Call: Mount Hyjal. Either quest takes you to Moonglade, and from there on an Emerald Drake ride to the new zone. Immediately, you’re bombarded by imagery of the terrifyingly huge Deathwing and his favorite new pal Ragnaros, who appear suddenly right in the path of your flight.

But either Deathwing doesn’t care enough about one solitary drake to attack, or he’s too busy scheming to leave his dirty business aside — because you survive the sighting and even live on to warn the heroes at your side and then start down the path to assembling a team that can take down the fire lord.

You’re presented with this very clear objective from the start, and spend most of the rest of the time in Hyjal finding a way to make it happen. There are a few scant quests thrown in along the way that seem less connected to the overarching plot than others (bear tossing, anyone?) but overall, there were very few times throughout the zone that I felt I wasn’t somehow contributing to the good fight. And, to be honest, most of the time I felt like a rabid fangirl who had fallen into an epic battle with some of my favorite characters from Warcraft lore.

Click through for more commentary along with a massive photo gallery of the Hyjal experience, from start to finish.

Too busy to read World of Warcraft: Stormage yourself? Then you’ve come to the right place. Unlike the properreview, this installment of TL:DR brings you the important events of Knaak’s best Warcraft novel to date.

As close to the Emerald Dream as we've come.

Stormrage is about the Emerald Dream/Nightmare from start to finish. Knaak painstakingly introduces us to the world, the characters he’s going to use, and this other realm during the first half of the book. It’s slow going, but the time lets us realize that Malfurion isn’t just trapped in the Nightmare. He’s being used by Xavius, Queen Azshara’s former second-in-command, to strengthen the Nightmare while Xavius attempts to bind the mortal plane with the dreamworld. Xavius uses this opportunity to toy with Malfurion, attacking him psychologically and morphing his dream form into a gnarled tree, much like Xavius’ new guise.

In the mortal plane, Tyrande, Broll and a pair of newcomers fight against an encroaching slumber. Those that succumb end up joining its nightmarish ranks, much like the Scourge and its plague. After fruitlessly battling the apparitions, the group stumbles upon Eranikus and launches a daring rescue attempt – One that sends their mortal bodies into the Emerald Nightmare after Malfurion. Eventually, the archdruid is freed. And the second half begins.

Thanks to the thick plot and exhaustive description early, Knaak uses the second portion to unleash the action. We discover that Fandral Staghelm, the druid in charge during Malfurion’s nap time, and Remulos have been corrupted by the Nightmare Lord. Staghelm, in turn, corrupts Teldrassil, further increasing his master’s power. Remulos distracts Malfurion until the druid sees through the plot. The force of Malfurion, Tyrande, Broxigar’s axe, Eranikus (who dies), Broll’s ascension and Ysera barely overcame Xavius and his master’s plan.